Crusaders v Chiefs
-
-
@tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Matera has been pretty average so far. Hard to see how such a has-been justifies a place in NZ's most talent laden squad.
I thought he had an Awesome game at no.8 v MP he was awarded the players MVP.
He made a lot of metres and made a lot of tackles.
I think because he doesn't make big flashy runs on the edges,he doesn't take people eye.Watching the Games a second time he does a shit load of Tight work. -
@kiwimurph Would make sense with some of the guys not there.
-
-
-
-
@stargazer said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
I would have preferred Grace getting the start at 8, and Matera on the bench because he can cover all three backrow positions and because Grace is an All Blacks prospect who needs the starts.
they will get rotated a bit with 5 big games in a row v NZ sides.
-
-
One of the most interesting results of the last few years was the rapid elevation of Cullen Grace to the ABs.
There was all this talk about how he had the hardest shoulders, he was so fucking tough, maybe he was the 10th time that him or someone like him had been talked as the new Richie McCaw.
The Crusaders PR engine was firing on all cylinders.
Now he can't compete with on holiday has-been Pablo Matera.
Perhaps the Crusaders pipeline has hit a fault that even TJ can't obscure.
-
Looking at those teams, I have to scale back my Chiefs claims of being the team to beat. That Crusaders team looks rather strong.
On Grace, I thought he was playing quite well. He still needs to get more abrasive in contact but has been very busy and accurate. -
@old-samurai-jack said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
On Grace, I thought he was playing quite well. He still needs to get more abrasive in contact but has been very busy and accurate.
Agree. Looking better than last year so far. I wonder if he has struggled playing 8 rather than 6? He seems a more natural 6 to me.
-
@yeetyaah said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Speaking as a diehard Chiefs fan who always backing the lads no matter what, I think we're gonna get rolled idk.
There is either Covid in the squad or they've given up on this game. That's a squad to run out against MP.
-
Happy the Chiefs are rotating to give all squad members a good shot now compared to the Crusaders strategy of playing best players more. May balance out the odds in their coming tough matches. Keen to see Dyer Reihana and Ratima play. Wish they would try Thompson on bench too.
-
@arhs said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Happy the Chiefs are rotating to give all squad members a good shot now compared to the Crusaders strategy of playing best players more. May balance out the odds in their coming tough matches. Keen to see Dyer Reihana and Ratima play. Wish they would try Thompson on bench too.
I don’t think that has been the Crusaders strategy so far this season.
-
@arhs said in Crusaders v Chiefs:
Happy the Chiefs are rotating to give all squad members a good shot now compared to the Crusaders strategy of playing best players more. May balance out the odds in their coming tough matches. Keen to see Dyer Reihana and Ratima play. Wish they would try Thompson on bench too.
Thompson will be the only fit player who hasn't been involved yet. I don't think McMillan has to make so many changes each week as the Chiefs will have 5 games before a bye. Maybe there is more to the exclusion of certain players for this game, but otherwise you can have a mix of experience and youth in the 23 (e.g., Weber plus one of Roe/Ratima, the same at hooker). Those wanting to see a return in the ABs for Moli will be waiting for a while as he doesn't look ready yet to be a regular in the Chiefs 23.
-
Mafileo could be a big loss here. He wouldn't get bullied around at scrum time like Ta'avao could be.
Was also looking forward to seeing how Josh Lord went against strong opposition as the kid is some talent imo along with Va'ai.
The Chiefs have a lot of good things going for them going forward.
-
I'm not too fussed about the Chiefs selection. I'm guessing it is a team picked for a gameplan. Weber and JIoane are our running halves combo. Roe and Gatland play for territory better.
The backline has a nice balance to it. Stevenson may go hot and cold but all ofthe back three could do damage after a poor kick. I'd like to see Stevenson used for long touchfinders as well. If we can keep the Saders away from our corners that is half the game.
On paper though, it looks a little like a concede and try a few things for (hopefully) later in the comp. -
I think they had a very tough early draw made worse by losing the MP game amidst AB return to play protocols. So I assume the strategy is to develop strength in depth now in expectation of covid and travel fatigue hitting teams hard in latter stages of comp. If so then it is wise given they seem to have better overall depth than their competitors.
Would be less happy if straight A team fielded each week except for a complete B team against MP. Canes seem to be mixing it up like Chiefs and Highlanders too. Will be interesting to see how it all pans out.
